What would Aetherra be without its beasts? Well, our continent probably wouldn’t be much more than a postcard idyll and there would be little real challenges for bold adventurers. However, much to the chagrin of the plagued population, circumstances are different in our world because the Drift often changes the formerly familiar into terrible nightmares. And the longer the shadow of the Drift fall on the land, the bigger the number of the wandering horrors. However: only very few have ever survived a meeting with those creatures. This is why we only have a small number of eyewitness accounts. Of those monstrosities of which we have sufficient knowledge we gladly tell you about in our new bestiary which we’ll update regularly.

Note: You won’t encounter everything that you’ll see here in exact the same form on your visits to Aetherra. Some things are only concepts or ideas that need further elaboration. If you yourself are at times plagued by nightmares or if you have concrete thoughts of the entities you’d like to face in battle on your long travels to Aetherra: we gladly let us inspire by your suggestions. Just mail us at info@unbended.de or post your wishes in the forum and discuss them with other UNBENDED supporters. We are looking forward hearing from you.

Frequently, the creatures that are created by the Drift arise from the deepest horrors of the sleeping. One of those is the nightmare. Manifested in the real world by the power of the Drift, the nightmares are a deadly threat for anyone who meets them. Before the nightmare starts his lethal attack with his claws and teeth, he likes to paralyze his prey by emitting his death cry. For the victim this starts a nightmarish ordeal as the nightmare loves to torture his immobilized prey before finally killing it.

The nightmare can be encountered throughout Aetherra. Nightmares are always solitary and they always attack from the shadows. They abhor bright daylight as it dazzles them lastingly. The spidery appendages of the nightmares are covered by a robust armor that well protects them against physical attacks. Its eyes and mouth appear to be the nightmares only weak spots. This is why an experienced close combat fighter or archers prefer to attack this places. Here time is of the essence though as nightmares are able to quickly heal their own wounds.

Nightmares are very agile and quick, which has become the downfall of many fighters. They are also excellent climbers and not even the steep walls of a fortress can’t stop them. Though they are often immune to magic, they do fear the power of fire. Engaging a nightmare into a direct fight is something only experienced warriors that already have won their spurs in battle should do. For anyone else the only alternative that remains is a speedy flight – or a terribly gruesome death.